Concerned about my teen's short stature

[Whentimeisright]

My DS is nearly 14 and about 5ft. I'm about 5ft 2 and my DH is 5ft 8. Neither of our parents are tall. DH had a very similar trajectory - didn't develop until later, was tiny for a while.

DS did blood tests for something else earlier this year and they included some general (not sure what) tests just to check no issues. It was fine.

I know there's a test to measure wrist/bone to see if he's just behind his peers; and I guess if there's an issue he'll be offered testosterone - which we really are not into.

But my understanding is that there is a window for testosterone? Whilst we don't want it, I don't want to close the window either.

Any thoughts? Sit and wait?

Lots of boys shoot up after 16

My DD had a BF age 14 also 14 and he was your DS height then shot up after 16

Has he hit puberty yet? Can affect growth.

I'd say he's likely to grow a few more inches in the next couple of years. Boys sometimes don't get taller until around 16 whereas many girls are their full height at 13/14.
I wouldn't worry too much. If he's not very tall that's not the end of the world. Not everyone is. As you say your family are smaller in stature.

He hasn't hit puberty yet in any meaningful way. I mean, he's started but no where near finished.

I'm hoping he hits 5ft 7. I don't think that's unrealistic given our heights, but we'll see.

It's quite a big deal to him.

If you are on Instagram dr.beachgem10 has children with growth restrictions requiring treatment and she is a good source of advice and example. Definitely worth considering GP guidance.

If he hasn't hit puberty yet then I wouldn't think it was an issue yet. My DS grew a huge amount in a couple of years from 14 onwards - so much so that he has stretch marks on his back. It was a completely different trajectory to my DDs who grew much more gradually and earlier.

I think they only do the wrist scan if there is a known reason that he's not growing as fast as he could, such as certain illnesses that limit growth. If there's no concerns then they assume they are just naturally shorter, or will catch up during puberty.

@Whentimeisright I totally get that. But reassure him he'll grow some more, but if he still wants to investigate it then he can go to the doctors and maybe get some medication at 16. I'd say for now it's just a case of waiting a bit. Has he fully hit puberty? Deep voice, hairy etc?
I hope he knows that being tall isn't the only way to be attractive.

My dp was always small, probably about 5ft at age 14. He's now 5ft 5". There are good points to being little. He loves it. He's small and cute and I wouldn't have it any other way

There are several stages (Tanner scale?) to puberty and he's at the beginning

I'm pleased that you're both really happy with it. My DS is not happy, as much as I try to reinforce self love etc.

What I'm hoping is that he is following his father's trajectory of being late

My ds was tiny for ages. He also hated it. He had a growth spurt at 13/14 and is now 5'6" at 15.

My friend's son grew very slowly until he hit 16 then shot up. For a while, his sister two years younger was taller than him, but he has more than overtaken her now.

If bloods show nothing wrong, it probably is a matter of waiting. It's tough for small boys when some of their peers are hitting 6' at that age.

Thank you - yes, it is tough. Presumably, your son is still growing? I know the curve for boys can be much slower and later than girls

My DN was tiny at 13. Prob DS's height. Once he reached full height, he was 6ft 1. His mum is 5.4 and his dad 5.9

No one knows. I guess I need to stop worrying because I simply can't control it

Could you not ask the gp whether he could have an appointment with an endocrine consultant? My Dd was very small and had growth hormones until the age of around 12. She has grown to 5ft 2 which is still short but much taller than she would have been without

@Whentimeisright in that case he's bound to grow significantly. If he's only at the beginning it makes sense he's smaller than some others who are more developed.

Someone told me in the Second World War a-lot of the young poor male soldiers shot up in height because they were fed better than at home.

Does your DS eat well?

There are lots of mn threads about this. Search because they have good advice. Gp probably won't want to refer to consultant but I'd politely insist. Some don't favour the steroids, but that's your choice, once you get there. If you don't push you won't even have the option to choose.

We raised concerns when ds was in year 6 as he was significantly shirter than his peers.

We at first thought it might be coeliac and lack of nutrients being absorbed, however fortunately we had a very thorough go who arranged full bloods and then arranged an xray which showed his skeletal development was about 5 years delayed, so quite significant.

Ds then was referred to endocrinology clinic and started growth hormone. He is 16, very clearly going through puberty and at moment 5ft 6, which he is happy with as whilst not tallest of his peers he is seems more in line with them.

I dont think he will be on the growth hormone much longer, his next review is due about january, and as puberty quite advanced once that has completed his growth cant be pushed further.i would strongly recommend you make a gp app to try for an endocrinology referral before limited by puberty progression, so you have a window, if needed, for hormones to push growth if it isn't naturally developing.

One thing we and school.observed qas that his maturity emotionally was delayed too, so teachers mentioned his behaviours, emotions, trying to fit in with peers, etc were sonethi g they expected to see a good 3 or 4 years plus younger than what he was, so things have generally bern a bit more of a struggle for him to slot in with his peers.

Gosh sorry for all typos! I am shattered!!

It’s not unrealistic and if he hasn’t hit puberty, he hadn’t had his growth spurt. Was he a picky eater as a boy? Often they grow later.

A friend’s son was very sickly and they were told he would still reach his potential height but it would come later as his nutrition had been disrupted by illness. The body does its essential tasks first, then catches up with growth as an extra. It might just take him longer than a boy who gobbled down his greens and protein like every meal was his last!

A referral to an endocrinologist who specialises in this issue is your best bet medically.
BTW - if you like, tell him I have 3 x sons in their 20's, all short, all lovely, ( very goodlookig if I do say so myself) all with great jobs and this is the bit that will interest him - all with stunning, intelligent, friendly , kind, equally hard-working girlfriends.
The smart girls pick men for their personality, and humour and charm etc.
Tell him to play sport, get the testo injections if he wants/ are recommended and then carry on enjoying his life.
Sport is actually an excellent thing, particularly for short boys. My oldest was starting to get picked on in early secondary school. He asked to sign up for rugby. I was terrified and made him wear headgear ( some of the other boys were already the size of a fridge). His very first game he had a huge guy running at him , stood his ground and then completed a perfect tackle.
Never had a problem again.
He did switch to soccer though ( I may have bribed him) and is still playing at 29yo. Loves it. Anyone of any size can play soccer, and they seem to stay mates for ever.
Sorry for blathering it's just I was where you are. Don't Panic.

DS didn't shoot up until the summer after turning 15. I knew it was coming, he carb loaded for three weeks straight and then suddenly.. wham! His voice suddenly dropped too. He seems to grow more in the summer, same a year later this summer too.

I was in a real panick about my DS until about 14 months ago. He is 15 now. In a year he grew from 5 1 or 2 to 5,7. It’s really stressful but likely yours will shoot up. Keep feeding him up!